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Notice of Funding Opportunity SummaryThe purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NFO) is for NRCS-Illinois to partner with non-Federal entities to acquire surveying aides to carry out conservation technical assistance to private landowners and conservation districts, using technically skilled, professional surveying aides. Proposals submitted pursuant to this NFO must demonstrate the ability to increase conservation resources available rather than merely reallocating already existing resources.Proposals that do not include the addition of new resources will not be considered. The new employee must be able to travel 50% of their time and work in multiple counties per NRCS guidance. See Attachment 1 for NRCS Illinois organization by 34 District Groups (DG). NRCS- Illinois will be providing space, utilities, GPS survey equipment, computer, access to a vehicle, and network access.The survey aides hired by the non-Federal entity will perform the following duties:The qualified surveying aides will work in the local field offices with landowners to apply and maintain several conservation practices and reviews financial assistance requests under the federal and state agricultural programs.The survey aides will gather preliminary resource inventory data and information on the physical features of agriculture and other natural resource sites.The survey aides will provide technical support to the conservation planners in resource planning by utilizing applicable survey tools and planning software and assisting with data collection.The survey aides will compute and plot engineering notes, prepare field sketches and drawings, select standard designs, modifying or adjusting them to site conditions within the limits of the engineering practice review and approval limits.The survey aides will aid with implementation, checkout and certification of conservation practices, and assists in planning, designing, and layout.Key DatesApplicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on June 03, 2021. For technical issues with Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov. Awarding agency staff cannot support applicants regarding Grants.gov accounts. Questions regarding this notice of funding opportunity (NFO) may be submitted until May 01, 2021 Responses to questions posed will be posted on Grants.gov approximately two weeks before the application due date.The agency anticipates making selections by June 15, 2020 and expects to execute awards by September 01, 2021.